Device for calibrating transparent tubes



A. MAZZI AND F. MARTINI. DEVICE FOR CALIBRATING.THANSPARENT fuBEs.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1. 1920.

1,394,423. Patented Oct. 18, 1921 z'suziIs-snier 2.

attoaneq A. MAZZI AND F. MARTINI.

DEVICE FOR CALIBRATING TRANSPARENT TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED JULYI. 1920.

1,394,423, Patented Oct. 18, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

5 nvewcow UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DEVICE FOR CALIBRATING TRANSPARENT TUBES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 18, 1921.

Application filed July 1, 1920. Serial No. 393,370.

T 0 all 20 from it may concern Be it known that we AUGUST MAzzi, a citizen of the United tates, and FRANK MARTINI, a subject of the King of Italy, respectively, residing at Vineland, in the county of Cumberland and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Calibrating Transparent Tubes; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to devices for calibrating transparent tubes.

The main object of this invention is to provide an improved device whereby the gaging of burettes, pipettes and other transparent tubes can be effected with excessive accuracy and despatch, by any person of ordinary ability, for enabling the operator to. accurately mark the tube to indicate measuring divisionsof co-equal cubical ca pacity. Other objects and advantages will be pointed out or implied in the following details of description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view partly in vertical section, of a gaging apparatus constructed and arranged in accordance with'our invention,

Fig.2 is a side elevation of an improved Windlass and its mounting and controlling elements such as shown in end elevation in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device shown in Fig. 2,

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view along the axis of the Windlass,

Fig. 5 is a fragmental detail view of the device as seen from the right-hand of Fig. 2, parts being broken away and a portion of the ratchet-teeth being omitted,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of one of the Windlass-bearings,

Fig. 7 is a fragmental detail view of a portion of the axle of the Windlass,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view illustrating the connection of two of the dis placement members, and a Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view along the line 9-9 of Fig. 1.

Referring to these drawings in detail, in which similar reference characte p correspond with similar parts throughout the several views, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts which will now be described as follows:

Referring to Fig. 1, a transparent tube T 18 shown in position to be calibrated, the lower end of this tube being in registration with and open communication with the upper end of a liquid container 1, this container being provided with an upwardly facing tube-seat on which the lower end of the tube T is seated while being calibrated. This tube-seat consists of an inwardly extending endless flange or cushion which is formed integrally with an elastic tubular element or sleeve 2, preferably of rubber; and the lower end of this tube or sleeve 2 embraces the upper end of the container 1 and the lower end of-thc tube T, thereby forming a water-tight connection between the container and tube.

As a convenient, effective, exceedingly simple and comparatively cheap adjustable supporting means for the container 1 and tube T, we provide a supporting rod 3 which preferably extends vertically from the floor to the ceiling of a room in which the device is to be operated. Spring clamps 1 are adjustably secured by means of set-screws, or other appropriate means, on the rod 3, and thes clamps may be of any appropriate form or construction for automatically adjusting themselves to embrace tubes of slightly varying diameters, and are quckly and easily removable from the rod 3 so as to be replaced by others of greater or less capacity, or to be replaced by new ones in case of breakage or other defects.

Water is supplied to the container 1 from a supply tank or reservoir 5 which is positioned above the level of the tube or tubes to be calibrated, thewater passing from the tank 5 through a pipe 6 and a valve 7 into the container 1. A valve 8 isprovided for controlling the flow ofwater from the container 1, th s valve being connected with an outlet pipe 9 which may discharge the water into a bucket (not shown), so that the water from the bucket can bepoured into the tank 5 and used repeatedly, or else, water can be supplied to the tank from a continual or constant source, and the waste water through the valve 8 and pipe 9 may be disposed of in any. suitable way; By means of the valves 7 and 8, any desired water level may be obtained within the container 1 or tube T. In other words, preparatory to the actual calie brating operation oi. a tube T, the water level should be half or near the lower end of the tube, according to where the calibrating of the tube is to begin. Therefore, water may be admitted through the valve 7 after a tube T has been placed in the position shown in Fig. 1, and if the water level is too highin the tube, upon closing the valve 7, the valve 8 may be opened slightly so as to lower the water level; or else the correct water level may be obtained in the container 1 or in its upward extension 2 before the tube T is seated and clamped in osition.

The actual calibrating is effected by means o1 one or more displacement members on rods 10. There may be any number of these rods or members 10, according to the maximum number of graduations or measurements to be indicated on the tubes to be calibrated. As shown in Fig. 1, there is a series or chain of inter-connected spaced members 10, their connections being indicated at 11. These connections may each consist of a relatively narrow and thin strip or wire of any appropriate material and secured to the members 10 in any appropriate way. At 12 is indicated a supporting line or flexible element which is connected to the uppermost one of the members 10 and constitutes a means for lowering the chain of displacement members 10 into the tubes and containers 1 and for raising this chain of members 10 out ofthe tubes Tn As an appropriate means for actuating the line or cable 12, we provide an appropriate windlass 18 such as illustrated in Figs 2 to 5 inclusive, or of other appropriate construction, and the line or cable 12 is wound thereon so as to move the unwound part longitudinally. The line or cable 12 extends over a pair of sheaves or wheels 14 which are journaled in opposite ends of a bearing member or bar 15 which is vertically adjustable by 'means of a screw 16 which is threaded in the middle portion of this bar 15 and has a swivel connection with a bracket 17 which depends from the ceiling of the room and includes vertical guide bars 18 along which the bar 15 slides up and down while being adjusted, and a handwheel 19 is provided on the screw 16 for manipulating or rotating the latter. One

ot the sheaves 14 is vertically alined with the upwardly facing seat for the tubes T, and when one of these tubes is in the gaging position. this sheave 14: holds the chainof displacement members approximately in alinement with the tube T. However, this sheave 14- also serves as a stop for limiting the upward movement of the chain or displacement members, and when the uppermost one of these members is drawn tightly against the sheave 14:, this has a tendency displacement members 10 may be of any appropriate dimensions or shapes, but each of them must be of a predetermined size or mass; that is, each member 10 must be o1 a predetermined cubic displacement, according to the measurement it is intended to indicate on the transparent tube T. Therefore, each member 10 will indicate a predetermined measurement on the tube T regardless of whether the tube be of a certain diameter or of a slightly larger or smaller diameter.

The purpose of the device illustrated in Figs. 2 to 7 inclusive, is to elfect a step by step movement or" the series of displacement members 10 into the container l,'that is to move one of the members 10 into the liquid, then a second, then athird, a fourth, etc. in order to accomplish this step by step movement, the Windlass is provided with two ratchet wheels 21 and 22, these ratchet wheels being either formed integrally with the drum of the windlass13 or secured thereto in any appropriate way, one way being illustrated in Fig. 4 where pins 23 extend through and 30. The extensions or uprights 28 also carry bifurcated guides 31 and 32 for preventing horizontal movement of the pawls 29 and 30, while permitting them to swing about their respective pivots. Each of these pawls is provided with a spring 33 which yieldingly holds it in a substantially hori- Zontal, position.- As shown in Fig. 5, the ratchet-teeth of thewheel 22 are outwardly inclined in the circumferential direction opposite to that in which the teeth of thejwheel 21 are inclined. In other words, as viewed in Fig. .5, the teeth of the wheel 21 point in'tlle clockwise direction, andthe teeth of the wheel 22-point in the contra-clockwise direction. The pawl 29. is adapted to: en-

gage with or fit between the teeth of the Wheel 21, and the pawl 30 is adapted to fit between the teeth of the wheel 22, the lower working edges of these pawls being inclined according to the inclination of the teeth with which they engage, so that each pawl permits the Windlass to be turned in one direction and holdsit against turning in the opposite direction; for instance, when the pawl 29 is engaged with the wheel 21, as shown in Fig. 1, the Windlass can rotate only in the contra-clockwise direction. However, by moving the Windlass axially so as to release the wheel 21 from itspawl and engage the wheel 22 with its pawl, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the windlass can be rotated only in the clockwise direction.

The Windlass can be alternately and yield ingly secured in the positions shown in Figs. 2 and 4 by any appropriate retaining means, but a very simple and effective means is shown in FigspG and 7,. in which the shaft or axle 27 is provided with a diametral bore or plunger-seat in which a pair of plungers or detents 34 are seated for axial movement. A spring 35 is compressed between the plungers 34 and constantly tends to press these plungers outward. The bearing 26 is provided with two peripheral grooves 36 in which the pair of plungers 34 extend alternately. That is, when the windlass is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the plungers 34 ride or slide in the outer or right-hand groove 36, and when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4, these plungers or detents ride in the inner'or left-hand groove 36. However, because of the cone-shaped or outwardly tapering ends of the plungers 34, and the corresponding sides of the grooves 36, these plungers are pressed inward when a sufiicient axial pressure is applied to the crank 25.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that when the cable 12 is wound upon the Windlass 13, as shown in Fig. 2, it will'be necessary to move the Windlass axially to the position shown in Fig. 4 in order that the cable 12 may be unwound for lowering the-displa ement members 10; but on the other hand, if the cable 12 is wound oppositely on the drum of the indlass, it could be unwound by turning the Windlass in the contra-clockwise direction while in the position shown in Fig. 2. It should be understood that one end of the cable 12 is secured to the Windlass by any appropriate means, and that thiswindlass is provided withhelical guides or a guiding rib or thread 37 and. a consequent helical groove 38 in which the cable 12 is wound to prevent the line or cable 12 from crossing itself, thereby insuring an equal movement of the displacement members for each revolution of the Windlass. However, it is the purpose of the equally spaced ratchet teeth of the wheels sustaining their weight.

21 and 22 to effect equal movements of the displacement members by a series of step by step partial revolutions of the Windlass, and this is effected in the following manner:

Assume that the itch distance, that is, the distance from the ower end of one member 10 to the lower end of the next one above, is one inch, and that by rotating the windlass through a circumferential distance of four of the ratchet teeth, exactly one inch of the line 12 is unwound from the windlass. This moves the chain of members 10 downward one inch each time the Windlass is rotated a distance of four of its ratchet teeth. Now, assuming the device to be in the position shown in Fig. 4,'the ratchet will click four times, thereby notifying the operator that the displacement members have moved the proper distance, that is, its pitch dis tance, on inch. It the displacement memher was at the proper starting position, this downward movement displaces a quantity of water from the tanlr or container 1 equal to the size of the displacement member, and this displaced water rises into the tube T. The operator now marks the tube T at the level of the water therein, and then manipulates the crank 25 for moving the Windlass an additional four teeth of its ratchet wheels, thereby effecting another step of the series of displacement members downward into the container 1 and tube T, thus indicating another measurement to be marked at the water level in the tube T. \Vhen the operator has marked the tube Tat this water level, the operation is repeated until the water level has approached the top of the tube 'l, whereupon the rotation of the windlass is reversed and the series or chain of displacement members thereby raised out of the tube T. In cases where the members 1 are relatively small and of light weight, the pawl 30 may be suflicient to sustain the weight these members, especially after a. number 01 them have become submerged, and the buoyancy of the water assists in However, in cases where the pressure and friction of the pawl 30 is'insulii ient to hold the Windlass against excessive forward movement, the operator pulls the handle 25 in the direction for movthe windlass rightward, thereby bringing the teeth of the wheel 21 into engagement with the pawl 29, and this pawl icts as a positive stop for preventing excessive movement of the Windlass.

Although the links, bonds or connecting elements 11 are so small that the quantity of water displaced thereby is substantially negligible, the device is rendered exceedingly accurate by means of the adjusting screw 16 and its adjuncts, because an infinite number of adjustments can be obtained by this means. in this connection, his to be understood that when the diameter of the tube T varies, the water level will vary with relation to the displacement members 10; whereas for perfectly accurate gaging, the water level should always register either with the upper end, the lower end or at a predetermined distance from the upper and lower ends of the tubes, that is, at a predetermined point on each link or connector 11. In case an unwinding strip of the Windlass does not position the displacement members at one of these predetermined points with relation to the water level, the screw 16 is manipulated by the operator to raise or lower the displacement members, until the water level registers with this predetermined point, be tween the ends of the displacement members. Moreover for the sake of saving time, it is always desirable to stop the lowermost displacement member at a slight distance above the end of the tube to be gaged. Therefore, when short tubes are to be calibrated, the screw 16 is manipulated for lowering the displacement members; and on the other hand, when long tubes are to be calibrated, the displacement members are raised by means of the screw 16; that is the wheel 14; which acts as a stop is raised to such position that the uppermost member 10 abuts against this wheel when the lowermost one is only slightly above the tube being calibrated.

When the calibrating of one tube has been completed, it is slid upward through the clamps until its lower end is above the level of the flexible sleeve 2, and it is then moved laterally out of engagement with the clamps l; whereupon another tube is passed laterally into the clamps 4 and then moved downward onto the seat of the sleeve 2.

It is not intended to limit this invention to the exact details of construction and arrangement as described, but changes may be made within the scope of the inventive ideas as implied and claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for calibrating open ended transparent tubes, a liquid container having an upwardly facing tube-seat provided with an opening adapted to communicate with the interior of the tube to be calibrated through one of the open ends of the tube, means to interchangeably secure tubes on said seat and prevent leakage between said seat and a tube, a chain of duplicate displacement members each for displacing a predetermined cubic quantity of liquid in the tube and a suspending element to lower said displacement members through the tube into said liquid container.

2. In a device for calibrating open ended transparent tubes, a liquid'container having an upwardly facing tube-seat provided with an opening adapted to communicate with the interior of the tube to be calibrated through one of the open ends of the tube, means to interchangeably secure the tubes on said seat and to prevent leakage between said seat and each tube, aserles of lnterconnected spaced members each-for displaclng a predetermined cubic quantity of liquid in the tube and a suspending element to lower said displacement members through each tube into said liquid container.

3. The structure defined by. claim 1, and separate means for causingliquid to rise in each tube from said liquid container and to recede into the latter.

4. The structure defined by claim 1, said liquid container being provided with a valved inlet and a valved outlet, a reservoir at a level above-the level'of said seat, and a conduit in open communication with said inlet, whereby the liquid can be caused to rise from said container into each tube on said seat and to recede from each tube into said container, substantially as specified.

5. The structure defined by claim 1, a vertical supporting and guiding member, and a tube-securing member mounted for vertical adjustment on said supporting and guiding member so as to be properly engaged with tubes of diflerent lengths on said tubeseatfor securing these tubes in the gaging position.

6. The'structure defined by claim 1, and means to. support andvertically adjust said suspending means. p

7 The structure defined by claim 1, and a screw-actuated adjustingdevice capable of effecting an infinite number of accurate vertical adjustments of said suspending element, for the purpose specified.

8. The structure defined by claim 1, means including a sheave for supporting said suspending elementand limiting the upward movement or" said displacementmember, and means to efiiect an infinite number of vertical adjustments of said sheave wheel, for the purpose specified.

9. The structure defined by claim 1, and means to elfect a series of predetermined vertical adjustments of said suspending means. V

- 10. The structure defined by claim 1, a windlass connectedto said suspending ele ment for effecting vertical adjustments of the latter, a ratchet wheel connected to and.

rotatable with said Windlass, and a pawlfor co-acting with said ratchet wheel to control said Windlass, said ratchet wheel being axially shittable into and out of engagement with said pawl.

11. The structure defined by-claim 1, said tube-seat consisting of an elastic tubular body formed with an endless inwardly projecting cushioning. flange which overlies the material about the opening of said liquid container, the part below said flange embracing said'contai'ner, the part above said flange being adapted to embra e the tubes to be gaged, V

12. The structure defined by claim 1, a ment on said rod, said guide being vertically vertically disposed supporting rod, means alined With said opening of the liquid concarried by said rod to hold and vertically tainer for the purpose specified. 10 adjust said liquid container means on said In testimony whereof We have hereunto set 5 rod to hold and vertically adjust the tubes our hands.

to be gaged, and a guide for said displace- AUGUST MAZZI. ment member mounted for vertical adjust- FRANK MARTINI. 

